Streaming media cellular broadcast

ABSTRACT

Devices, computer-readable media, and methods for allocating a source specific multicast internet protocol address to a streaming media content are disclosed. For example, a processor of a device may receive a streaming media content, allocate a source specific multicast internet protocol address to the streaming media content for a base station of a cellular network, allocate a first broadcast channel of the base station to the streaming media content, and associate the first broadcast channel with the source specific multicast internet protocol address. The processor may further generate a manifest file, the manifest file including an identification of the streaming media content and the source specific multicast internet protocol address, transmit the manifest file via a second broadcast channel of the base station, and transmit the streaming media content via the first broadcast channel of the base station.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/269,073, filed Sep. 19, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,278,156, which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates generally to delivery of streaming mediacontent via a cellular network, and more particularly to devices,computer-readable media, and methods for allocating a source specificmulticast internet protocol address to a streaming media content and todevices, computer-readable media, and methods for subscribing to astreaming media content associated with a source specific multicastinternet protocol address.

BACKGROUND

Media streaming services may interface with mobile applications, orclients residing on users' smartphone devices. For example, music may bestreamed from servers of a music streaming service to a mobileapplication of a smartphone device using a multicasting protocol. Asimilar architecture may be used where video is streamed to mobileapplication clients from servers of a video streaming service. Atelecommunications service provider network acts as a pass-through dataservice which simply transmits and receives Internet Protocol (IP)packets to facilitate media streaming.

SUMMARY

In one example, the present disclosure discloses a device,computer-readable medium, and method for allocating a source specificmulticast internet protocol address to a streaming media content. Forexample, a method may include a processor for receiving a streamingmedia content, allocating a source specific multicast internet protocoladdress to the streaming media content for a base station of a cellularnetwork, allocating a first broadcast channel of the base station to thestreaming media content, and associating the first broadcast channelwith the source specific multicast internet protocol address. Theprocessor may further generate a manifest file, the manifest fileincluding an identification of the streaming media content and thesource specific multicast internet protocol address, transmit themanifest file via a second broadcast channel of the base station, andtransmit the streaming media content via the first broadcast channel ofthe base station.

In another example, the present disclosure discloses a device,computer-readable medium, and method for subscribing to a streamingmedia content associated with a source specific multicast internetprotocol address. For example, a method may include a processor forreceiving a first manifest file via a first broadcast channel of a firstbase station. The first manifest file may include an identification of afirst plurality of streaming media contents and a first plurality ofsource specific multicast internet protocol addresses associated withthe first plurality of streaming media contents. The processor may thenpresent a listing of the first plurality of streaming media contents,receive a selection of one of the first plurality of streaming mediacontents, and transmit a first request to subscribe to the one of thefirst plurality of streaming media contents to the first base station.The first request may include a first source specific multicast internetprotocol address of the first plurality of source specific multicastinternet protocol addresses that is associated with the one of the firstplurality of streaming media contents for the first base station. Theprocessor may further receive an identification of a second broadcastchannel of the base first station in response to the first request, thesecond broadcast channel of the first base station associated with theone of the first plurality of streaming media contents, tune to thesecond broadcast channel of the first base station, and receiving theone of the first plurality of streaming media contents via the secondbroadcast channel of the first base station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the present disclosure can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system related to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of an example method for allocating asource specific multicast internet protocol address to a streaming mediacontent;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an example method for subscribing to astreaming media content associated with a source specific multicastinternet protocol address; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an example high-level block diagram of a computerspecifically programmed to perform the steps, functions, blocks, and/oroperations described herein.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure broadly discloses devices, computer-readablemedia, and methods for allocating a source specific multicast internetprotocol address to a streaming media content and for subscribing to astreaming media content associated with a source specific multicastinternet protocol address, e.g., within a cellular network. Examples ofthe present disclosure distribute streaming media content in a moreefficient manner than each endpoint device receiving a unique streamthrough the entire system.

For instance, many users in a geographic area may want to connect to alive event stream. It is customary for each endpoint device to establisha unique data session extending through a telecommunications serviceprovider network to a source. For cellular endpoint devices, eachendpoint device may be allocated one or more unique radio frequency (RF)carriers for a data session, with subsequent wired transport back fromthe cell site into the core network and/or the cloud. Thus, each of theendpoint devices uses an incremental amount of bandwidth for therespective sessions. In contrast, examples of the present disclosureutilize shared RF bandwidth to deliver a series or selection ofstreaming media content, e.g., live broadcast content via the cellularnetwork, such that all endpoint devices in a cell or sector can sharethe same broadcast stream and use one shared session, while the endpointdevices are not connected to each other. For instance, broadcaststreaming media content may comprise video and/or audio relating to livesporting events, news, weather, scheduled television or audioprogramming, and other types of media content that is presented at atime that is selected by a network operator and/or a media provider,without input or selection from users as to the timing of the deliveryof the streaming media content.

In one example, a cellular network receives streaming media content froma media provider, e.g., via a content distribution network. Forinstance, the streaming media content may be distributed via a satellitereceiver or via a wired network, and placed into one or more servers ofthe cellular network that can distribute the content. In one example,control information and the actual streaming media content are deliveredto cell sites, e.g., base stations and/or related components, such asradio network controllers (RNCs), base station controllers (BSCs), mediacontrol units (MCUs), and so forth. In one example, base stationsbroadcast the control data in the form of a manifest file, e.g., anextensible markup language (XML)/text based file. In one example, thestreaming media contents may be broadcast/transmitted via differentbroadcast channels, e.g., RF resource blocks or the like, which may beselected from a pool of available RF resources of the base station.

In addition, in one example the manifest file is transmitted on aparticular broadcast channel, e.g., a control channel, of the basestation. For instance, a known control channel may be used to broadcasta manifest file at each cell site. The manifest file for each cell sitemay identify the streaming media contents that are available at thatcell site, and may provide source specific multicast (SSM) InternetProtocol (IP) addresses assigned to the streaming media contents. Anendpoint device may then request, e.g., subscribe, to a particularstreaming media content by sending a request with the SSM IP address. Aresponse may be provided to the endpoint device identifying a broadcastchannel on which the streaming media content is broadcast by the basestation. These and other aspects of the present disclosure are discussedin greater detail below in connection with the examples of FIGS. 1-4.

It should be noted that as referred to herein, the term “session”includes a sequence or flow, comprising one or more packets, segments,datagrams, frames, cells, protocol data units, service data unit,bursts, and so forth, as well as control and management communicationsrelated to the establishment, continuity, and termination of thesession. The particular terminology or types of data units involved mayvary depending upon the underlying network technology. Thus, the term“packet” is intended to refer to various types of data units that maycomprise a session or flow. In addition, the terms “configure,” and“reconfigure” may refer to programming or loading a computing devicewith computer-readable/computer-executable instructions, code, and/orprograms, e.g., in a memory, which when executed by a processor of thecomputing device, may cause the computing device to perform variousfunctions. Such terms may also encompass providing variables, datavalues, tables, objects, or other data structures or the like which maycause a computer device executing computer-readable instructions, code,and/or programs to function differently depending upon the values of thevariables or other data structures that are provided.

To better understand the present disclosure, FIG. 1 illustrates anexample network, or system 100 that may implement embodiments of thepresent disclosure for allocating a source specific multicast InternetProtocol address to a streaming media content and for subscribing to astreaming media content associated with a source specific multicastInternet Protocol address. In one example, the system 100 includes atelecommunications service provider network 105. The telecommunicationsservice provider network 105 may comprise a cellular network 110, aservice network 140, and an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network 150.The system 100 may further include other networks 170 connected to thetelecommunications service provider network 105. Endpoint devices 160and 161 may each comprise a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a tabletcomputing device, a laptop computer, a pair of computing glasses, awireless enabled wristwatch, or any other cellular-capable mobiletelephony and computing device (broadly, an “endpoint device”). In oneexample, endpoint devices 160 and 161 may communicate with cellularnetwork 110 using multiple cellular communication technologies, such asGSM/time-division multiple access (TDMA) communications, wideband codedivision multiple access (WCDMA), CDMA2000 communications, orthogonalfrequency division multiple access (OFDMA), and the like over variousfrequency bands.

In one example, the cellular network 110 comprises an access network 120and a converged network 130, e.g., a cellular core network withcomponents for 2G-4G and beyond architectures. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 1, access network 120 may include a Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network(UTRAN) portion, an evolved UTRAN (eUTRAN), and a base station subsystem(BSS), e.g., a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) radio accessnetwork (GRAN), while converged network 130 may include evolved packetcore (EPC) network components, and network switching subsystem (NSS)/GSMcore network and/or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) core networkcomponents. For example, base stations 121, 122, and 123 may eachcomprise a base transceiver station (BTS), a NodeB, and an eNodeB. Inother words, base stations 121-123 may each comprise a cell site with2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE components. As illustrated in FIG. 1, access network120 further includes a base station controller (BSC)/radio networkcontroller (RNC) 125, which may perform a variety of wireless networkmanagement related tasks such as wireless channel assignments,determining transmission power levels, controlling handovers from onebase station to another base station (e.g., for sessions using 2G and/or3G infrastructure), concentrating multiple signals from endpoint devicesfor onward transmission to other portions of the access network 120, orconverged network 130, and to perform other functions. In the presentexample, BSC/RNC 125 may coordinate 2G and 3G communications such asGSM/TDMA communications, WCDMA or CDMA2000 communications, and the likevia base stations 121-123.

In one example, each of the base stations 121-123 may have an associatedmedia coordination unit (MCU) 191-193. MCUs 191-193 may receive manifestfiles (or control data that is used to create manifest files) andstreaming media contents, and may re-broadcast the manifest files andstreaming media contents via RF broadcast channels of the respectivebase stations 121-123, as described in greater detail below. In oneexample, each of MCUs 191-193 may comprise a computing system, such ascomputing system 400 depicted in FIG. 4, specifically configured toperform various steps, functions, and/or operations in connection withexamples of the present disclosure for allocating a source specificmulticast Internet Protocol address to a streaming media content and forsubscribing to a streaming media content associated with a sourcespecific multicast Internet Protocol address.

In one example, converged network 130 provides various functions thatsupport wireless services in the 2G-4G/LTE environment. For instance,network devices Mobility Management Entity (MME) 132 and Serving Gateway(SGW) 134 provide various functions for LTE-based communications. Forexample, MME 132 is the control node for the LTE access networks, suchas eUTRAN portions of access network 120 (e.g., eNodeBs). In oneembodiment, MME 132 is responsible for user equipment (UE)/endpointdevice tracking and paging (e.g., such as retransmissions), beareractivation and deactivation process, selection of the SGW, e.g., SGW134, and user authentication. In one embodiment, SGW 134 routes andforwards user data packets, while also acting as the mobility anchor forthe user plane during inter-eNodeB handovers and as the anchor formobility between LTE and other wireless technologies, such as 2G and 3Gnetwork portions. For LTE-based communications, converged network 130may also include a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 136 that containssubscription-related information (e.g., subscriber profiles), performsauthentication and authorization of a wireless service user, andprovides information about the subscriber's location. The convergednetwork 130 may also comprise a packet data network (PDN) gateway 138which serves as a gateway that provides access between the convergednetwork 130 and various data networks, e.g., service network 140, IMSnetwork 150, networks 170, and the like. The packet data network gateway138 is also referred to as a PDN gateway, a PDN GW or a PGW. In oneexample, the LTE/EPC portions of converged network 130 may comprise anInternet Protocol (IP)/multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) backbonethat supports both real-time and non-real-time service delivery.

As mentioned above, converged network 130 may also include NSS/GSM corenetwork and/or GPRS core network components. For example, convergednetwork 130 may include one or more mobile switching centers (MSCs) foreach wireless access network that forms part of the system 100, such asMSC 182 for access network 120. The converged network 130 may furtherinclude one or more home location registers (HLRs), such as HLR 186,which functions as a central repository of authentication and servicevalidation information, subscription information, and other informationpertaining to user subscriptions and services. Similarly, respectivevisiting location registers (VLRs) may be integrated within each MSC,and may function as temporary repositories of authentication and servicevalidation information, subscription information, and other informationpertaining to visiting user subscriptions and services when an endpointdevice is located in a particular geographic region serviced by aparticular MSC/VLR. For example, MSC 182 may be designated to serve andadminister a first coverage area including access network 120. Thus, MSC182 may maintain, e.g., in a VLR, user profile records for endpointdevices currently serviced by base stations within the portion of thenetwork that is the responsibility of MSC 182 (e.g., endpoint device160).

Converged network 130 may also include GPRS network elements forhandling data calls to and from endpoint devices. Such network elementsmay include a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) 184, a gateway GPRSsupport nodes (GGSN) 188, and related support components including mediaservers, application servers, and the like. An SGSN refers to a networknode responsible for communicating with endpoint devices and routing ofdata calls. Similar to MSC 182, SGSN 184 may have specific coverageareas and be assigned to handle specific wireless access networks of thesystem 100. A GGSN refers to a network node responsible for theinterworking between a GPRS network (e.g., components of convergednetwork 130 that support GPRS services and functionality) and externalpacket switched networks, e.g., service network 140, IMS network 150,and networks 170. Thus, FIG. 1 illustrates various connections betweenGGSN 188 and other components of system 100. In one example, the GPRSportions of converged network 130 may comprise an IP/MPLS. In addition,converged network 130 may include various links and interfaces between2G/3G components and 4G/LTE components for coordination of variousservices. For instance, connections between MME 132 and MSC 182 andbetween PDN GW 138 and GGSN 188 are shown in FIG. 1. For ease ofillustration, other connections may exist but are omitted from theexample of FIG. 1.

In one example, IMS network 150 may include a proxy call session controlfunction (P-CSCF), a serving call session control function (S-CSCF), abilling and traffic (B&T) server, an ENUM (tElephone NUmbering Mapping)server 168, a domain name service (DNS) server, and other components(not shown). In one example, service network 140 may comprise one ormore devices for providing services to subscribers, customers, and orusers. For example, telecommunications service provider network 105 mayprovide a cloud storage service, web server hosting, and other services.As such, service network 140 may represent aspects of telecommunicationsservice provider network 105 where infrastructure for supporting suchservices may be deployed.

In the example of FIG. 1, converged network 130 may include anapplication server (AS) 180. In one example, AS 180 may comprise acomputing system, such as computing system 400 depicted in FIG. 4,specifically configured to perform various steps, functions, and/oroperations for allocating a source specific multicast internet protocoladdress to a streaming media content, in accordance with the presentdisclosure. In one example, converged network 130 may also include adatabase (DB) 181, e.g., a physical storage device integrated with AS180, or attached or coupled to AS 180, to store various informationregarding media streaming services, users, and/or their endpointdevices. For instance, DB 181 may store streaming media content andmetadata regarding the streaming media content, e.g., information suchas the titles, durations, formats, encoding types, ratings, etc., of thestreaming media content. DB 181 may also store control informationrelated to the broadcasting of streaming media content from base stationsites, e.g., base stations 121-123 in access network 120. For instance,control information may include selections of broadcast channels to useto broadcast different streaming media contents via the base stations121-123 and selections of SSM IP addresses to be associated with thesame and different streaming media contents for the various basestations 121-123. In one example, metadata and/or control informationrelating to streaming media content may be stored in manifest files thatmay be retrieved and sent by AS 180 to MCUs 191-193. In another example,AS 180 may retrieve metadata and/or control information relating tostreaming media content from DB 181 and may generate the manifest filesbefore sending the manifest files to MCUs 191-193. In still anotherexample, AS 180 may retrieve metadata and/or control informationrelating to streaming media content from DB 181 and may forward themetadata and/or control information to MCUs 191-193, where MCUs 191-193may create respective manifest files to be broadcast at each of the basestation sites/base stations 121- 123.

In one example, networks 170 may represent one or more enterprisenetworks, a circuit switched network (e.g., a public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN)), a cable network, a digital subscriber line (DSL)network, a metropolitan area network (MAN), an Internet service provider(ISP) network, and the like. In one example, the other networks 170 mayinclude different types of networks. In another example, the othernetworks 170 may be the same type of network. The other networks 170 maycomprise one or more media servers 175, which may be operated by one ormore media providers, and which may provide various types of streamingmedia content. In one example, media servers 175 may comprise one ormore computing devices for providing media to various recipient devicesvia media streaming sessions. For instance, media servers 175 maycomprise IP multicast servers for providing streaming media to variousrecipient devices over various networks which may employ the same ordifferent types of communication technologies. In one example, mediaservers 175 may store complementary or redundant copies of the samestreaming media content. Thus, any one or more of media servers 175 maybe selected as a source to stream selected streaming media content torecipient devices.

In one example, media servers 175 may broadcast streaming media contentusing an IP multicast protocol. For instance, one of the media servers175 may comprise a source to send streaming media content as to adesignated group IP address. Recipient devices may then indicate adesire to receive the streaming media content by sending a join requestthat indicates the group address. Routers, switches, and other devicesin transport paths between the source and various recipient devices maythen construct distribution trees which ingest the streaming mediacontent from the source, replicate the streaming media content andtransmit copies of the streaming media content toward the recipientdevices. Thus, for example, AS 180 may receive the streaming mediacontent from the one of the media servers 175 by sending a join requestindicating the IP group address for the particular streaming mediacontent, where routers, switches, gateways, and the like in one or morenetworks between the one of the media servers 175 and AS 180 may routethe streaming media content to AS 180 (and any other recipient devicesthat join the group) in response to the join request. AS 180 may thenpropagate the streaming media content toward MCUs 191-193, e.g., via PDNGW 138 and SGW 134 (e.g., for 4G/LTE service) and/or via GGSN 188, SGSN184, and BSC/RNC 125 (e.g., for 2G/3G service). For example, AS 180 maygenerate its own IP multicast stream with MCUs 191-193 sending joinrequests to join the group associated with the stream, or AS 180 mayunicast the streaming media content to one or more of the MCUs 191-193.

Alternatively, or in addition, MCUs 191-193 may also send join requestindicating the IP group address for the IP multicast stream associatedwith the streaming media content sourced from the one of the mediaservers 175. In other words, MCUs 191-193 may comprise independentrecipient devices associated with the streaming media content that maybe multicast by the one of the media servers 175. In such an example,the streaming media content may be propagated from the one of the mediaservers 185 to PDN GW 138 and/or GGSN 188 and onward through theconverged network 130 and access network 120 to the respective MCUs191-193 without AS 180 serving as a point of re-multicasting. However,in such an example, AS 180 may still perform management functionsrelated the broadcasting of the streaming media content via RF broadcastchannels of the respective base stations 121-123. In any of theforegoing examples, the MCUs 191-193 receive streaming media content andmay then rebroadcast the streaming media content via RF broadcastchannels via base stations 121-123. In this regard, MCUs 191-193 mayreceive the streaming media content over 2G/3G infrastructure or via4G/LTE infrastructure, and may rebroadcast the streaming media contentvia NodeB portions of base stations 121-123, respectively, or via eNodeBportions of base stations 121-123, respectively.

In one example, AS 180 may select RF resources of base stations 121-123for the broadcast of respective streaming media contents. For instance,AS 180 may send control plane communications to and receive controlplane communications from base stations 121-123 and/or the associatedMCUs 191-193 to determine available RF resources, such as OFDMA resourceblocks. For a particular streaming media content, and for a particularone of base stations 121-123, AS 180 may select RF resources for thestreaming media content to be broadcast and may notify the base stationand/or the MCU accordingly. As described above, the base station and/orthe associated MCU may receive the streaming media content via a varietyof paths through the system 100. In any event, the one of the basestations 121-123 and/or the one of the associated MCUs 191-193 may thenrebroadcast the streaming media content via the selected RF resources.In another example, AS 180 may communicate with MME 132 and/or MSC 182to indicate an intent to broadcast streaming media content via basestations 121-123. In turn, MME 132 and/or MSC 182 may then communicatewith base stations 121-123, MCUs 191-193, and/or BSC/RNC 125 todetermine available RF resources of the respective base stations121-123, to select RF resources for broadcasts of various streamingmedia content and to instruct the respective base stations 121-123, MCUs191-193, and/or BSC/RNC 125 to utilize the RF resources that areselected for the respective streaming media content.

In addition, as described above, MCUs 191-193 may be provided with ormay generate manifest files associated with streaming media content thatis being broadcast or that is to be broadcasted via base stations121-123, respectively. For example, for one of the base stations121-123, a manifest file may include identification(s) of the streamingmedia content(s) (e.g., one or more live audio or video programs) andone or more source specific multicast (SSM) IP addresses associated withthe one or more live audio or video programs. In one example, themanifest file may include additional information for each streamingmedia content, such as a duration of the streaming media content, arating of the streaming media content, a formatting and/or an encodingof the streaming media content, and so on. In one example, therespective manifest files may be broadcast via one or more dedicatedcontrol channels of the base stations 121-123. For example, the one ormore dedicated control channels may be designated in advance, and may beknown by endpoint devices such that endpoint devices may obtain manifestfiles via the relevant control channel(s). For instance, in one example,endpoint devices 160 and 161 may determine the relevant controlchannel(s) to receive manifest files via out-of-band communications withAS 180, MME 132, and/or MSC 182. In one example, the control channel(s)for broadcasting manifest files may be selected by AS 180, MME 132and/or MSC 182 in the same or in a similar manner as described above inconnection with the selection of RF resources for broadcasting theactual streaming media content.

Endpoint devices 160 and 161 may receive the manifest files from one ormore of the base stations 121-123 and may then present informationregarding available streaming media content for the users of suchdevices. For instance, the endpoint devices 160 and 161 may presenttitles, start and end times, durations, ratings, short descriptions, andso forth pertaining to the streaming media content that is identified inthe manifest file(s). Endpoint devices 160 and 161 may present theinformation via a display screen or via audio output. Endpoint devices160 and 161 may also receive selections of streaming media content fromusers and/or applications of the endpoint devices. For instance, a userof endpoint device 160 may select streaming media content “X” which isindicated to be broadcast. In response to such a selection, the endpointdevice 160 may retrieve a SSM IP address of the selected streaming mediacontent from the manifest file obtained from one of the base stations121-123. For instance, the endpoint device may select the SSM IP addressfrom the manifest file of the one of the base stations 121-123 that isthe closest to the endpoint device 160 or that presents the highestsignal-to-noise ratio, or based upon a similar criteria. In one example,the endpoint device may send a “subscribe” request that includes the SSMIP address assigned to the streaming media content in order to subscribeto the particular streaming media content.

The “subscribe” request may be sent to the one of the base stations121-123, MMUs 191-193, MME 132, MSC 182, or AS 180, depending upon theparticular architecture or network configuration and depending uponwhich component is responsible for the selection and/or the assignmentof RF resources to the streaming media content. In response to the“subscribe” request, one of the base stations 121-123, MMUs 191-193, MME132, MSC 182, or AS 180 may then determine the RF resources of the oneof the base stations 121-123 on which the streaming media contentassociated with the SSM IP address is being broadcast, and may send aresponse indicating to the endpoint device 160 the particular RFresources on which the streaming media content is being broadcast viathe one of the base stations 121-123. In one example, the devicereceiving the “subscribe” request may verify that the endpoint device160 is permitted to receive the streaming media content. For instance,certain streaming media content may be restricted to certainsubscribers, e.g., based upon whether the subscriber has paid to receivethe streaming media content, based upon an age of the subscriber, etc.For instance, a parent that owns an endpoint device, e.g., a subscriber,may indicate to the cellular network 105 that endpoint device 161 is foruse by the subscriber's child and should not receive streaming mediacontent. Thus, a “subscribe” request from such a device may be denied.In one example, the response may include an encryption key or the liketo allow the endpoint device 160 to access the streaming media contents,e.g., when the subscriber and/or the endpoint device is authorized toreceive the streaming media content. Endpoint device 160 may then tunethe RF resources identified, receive the streaming media content via theRF resources, and present the streaming media content at the endpointdevice 160.

The system 100 may also provide for continuity of an endpoint devicereceiving streaming media content as the endpoint device moves from onelocation to another, or as the radio environment changes. For example,endpoint device 160 may obtain different manifest files from each ofbase stations 121-123. The same streaming media content may beidentified in the different manifest files, but may have a different SSMIP addresses associated with the streaming media content. In addition,different RF resources may be utilized for broadcasting the samestreaming media content via different ones of the base stations 121-123.To illustrate, endpoint device 161 may receive streaming media contentvia a first set of RF resource blocks from base station 121. However,endpoint device 161 may be moving toward base station 122, such that areceived signal strength indicator (RSSI), or the like, of base station122 may increase to the point that the RSSI of base station 122 becomesgreater than the RSSI of base station 121. At this time, the endpointdevice 161 may send a “subscribe” request that includes the SSM IPaddress assigned to the streaming media content with respect to basestation 122. The “subscribe” request may be sent to the base station122, MMU 192, MME 132, MSC 182, or AS 180, depending upon the particulararchitecture or network configuration and depending upon which componentis responsible for the selection and/or the assignment of RF resourcesto the streaming media content. In response to the “subscribe” request,the base station 122, MMU 192, MME 132, MSC 182, or AS 180 may thendetermine the RF resources of the base station 122 on which thestreaming media content is being broadcast, and may send a responseindicating to the endpoint device 161 the particular RF resources onwhich the streaming media content is being broadcast via the basestation 122. Endpoint device 160 may then tune to the RF resourcesidentified, and continue to receive the streaming media content via theRF resources of the base station 122. A similar process may be followedas the endpoint device 161 moves away from base station 122 toward basestation 123.

In one example, the response may further include an encryption key toallow the endpoint device 161 to access the streaming media content viabase station 122. For instance, it may first be verified whether theendpoint device 161 is authorized to receive the streaming media contentvia base station 122, and if so, the encryption key may be provided inthe response. Notably, even though endpoint device 161 may be authorizedto receive the streaming media content via base station 121, it may notautomatically be the case that endpoint device 161 is also authorized toreceive the streaming media content via base station 122. For example,some content may have a geographic restriction such that an endpointdevice is not permitted to receive the streaming media content whenoutside of a particular area, notwithstanding that other endpointdevices may be permitted to receive the same streaming media contentoutside of such an area.

It should be noted that the system 100 has been simplified. In otherwords, the system 100 may be implemented in a different form than thatwhich is illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, the system 100 may beexpanded to include additional networks, such as network operationscenter (NOC) networks, additional access networks, and so forth. Thesystem 100 may also be expanded to include additional network elementssuch as border elements, routers, switches, policy servers, securitydevices, gateways, a content distribution network (CDN) and the like,without altering the scope of the present disclosure. In addition,system 100 may be altered to omit various elements, substitute elementsfor devices that perform the same or similar functions, combine elementsthat are illustrated as separate devices, and/or implement networkelements as functions that are spread across several devices thatoperate collectively as the respective network elements. For instance,in one example, MCUs 191-193 may be integrated within the respectivebase stations 121-123. Similarly, although the AS 180 and DB 181 areillustrated as components of service network 140, and media servers 175are illustrated as a components within networks 170, in other examples,any one or more of these components may be deployed in a differentconfiguration. For example, AS 180 and DB 181 may be deployed within IMSnetwork 150, or within converged network 130.

In addition, various elements of access network 120, converged network130, and IMS network 150 are omitted for clarity, including gateways orborder elements providing connectivity between such networks, internalrouters within converged network 130, and so on. Similarly, due to therelatively large number of connections available between devices in thesystem 100, various links between MME 132, SGW 134, base stations121-123, MCUs 191-193, SMSC 180, PDN GW 138, SMSG 180, and othercomponents of system 100 are also omitted for clarity. Moreover,although aspects of the present disclosure have been discussed above inthe context of a converged network with GSM/TDMA-based, GPRS/CDMA-based,and LTE/OFDMA-based components, examples of the present disclosure arenot so limited. For example, the teachings of the present disclosure canbe applied to networks and systems that use other types ofwireless/cellular technologies, such as enhanced data rates for GSMevolution (EDGE), IS-95, or a future technology or standard-basednetwork, e.g., a 5G network, and so forth. Thus, these and othermodifications are all contemplated within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 200 for allocating asource specific multicast internet protocol address to a streaming mediacontent, in accordance with the present disclosure. In one example,steps, functions and/or operations of the method 200 may be performed bya centralized cellular network-based device, e.g., deployed in anevolved packet core (EPC), such as 180, or AS 180 in conjunction withother components of the system 100, such as DB 181, MCUs 191-193, and soforth. In another example, the method 200 may be performed by a devicedeployed in a cellular access network, e.g., in a UTRAN or an eUTRAN,such as a base station and/or an MCU. In one example, the steps,functions, or operations of method 200 may be performed by a computingdevice or system 400, and/or processor 402 as described in connectionwith FIG. 4 below. For instance, computing device or system 400 mayrepresent AS 180 or an MCU of the present disclosure. For illustrativepurposes, the method 200 is described in greater detail below inconnection with an example performed by a processor, such as processor402. The method begins in step 205 and proceeds to step 210.

At step 210, the processor receives a streaming media content. Forexample, a media server, such as an IP multicast server, may providestreaming media to various recipient devices over various networks. Inone example, the processor may receive the streaming media content fromthe media server by sending a join request indicating the IP groupaddress for the particular streaming media content, where routers,switches, gateways, and the like in one or more networks between themedia server and the processor may route the streaming media content toprocessor (and any other recipient devices that join the group) inresponse to the join request. In another example where the processor maycomprise a processor of a base station or MCU, the streaming mediacontent may be received from another component of the cellular network,such as an application server that is multicasting the streaming mediacontent.

At step 220, the processor allocates a SSM IP address to the streamingmedia content for a base station of a cellular network. In one example,where the processor is a centralized cellular network component, theprocessor may select different SSM IP addresses for the streaming mediacontent for different base stations of the cellular network. The basestation may comprise, for example, a NodeB, an eNodeB, a BTS, acombination of any of the foregoing, and so on.

At step 230, the processor allocates a first broadcast channel of thebase station to the streaming media content. For instance, in oneexample the processor may select RF resources of the base station forthe broadcast of the streaming media content. In an example where theprocessor may comprise a centralized cellular network component, theprocessor may send control plane communications to and receive controlplane communications from the base station, or an associated mediacontrol unit (MCU), to determine available RF resources, such as OFDMAresource blocks. The processor may then select RF resources for thestreaming media content to be broadcast and may notify the base stationand/or the MCU accordingly. It should be noted that in connection withstep 230 the processor may also allocate a broadcast channel at one ormore additional base stations to broadcast the same streaming mediacontent.

At step 240, the processor associates the first broadcast channel withthe SSM IP address. For instance, the processor may store a recordassociating the first broadcast channel with the SSM IP address, e.g.,in a database and/or a data storage device associated with theprocessor, for a duration of the streaming media content, or as long asthere is otherwise a purpose for maintaining the association between thefirst broadcast channel and the SSM IP address. In one example, a recordassociating the first broadcast channel with the SSM IP address mayalternatively or additional be sent to and stored by other devices, suchas an RNC/BSC, a HSS, and so forth.

At step 250, the processor generates a manifest file for the basestation that is utilized in connection with the method 200, the manifestfile including an identification of the streaming media content and theSSM IP address. In one example, the manifest file may comprise atext-based file including identification(s) of one or more streamingmedia contents (e.g., one or more live audio or video programs,including at least the streaming media content received at step 210) andone or more SSM IP addresses associated with the one or more streamingmedia contents. In one example, the manifest file may include additionalinformation for each streaming media content, such as a duration of thestreaming media content, a rating of the streaming media content, aformatting and/or an encoding of the streaming media content, and so on.In one example, different manifest files may be generated for differentbase stations, each manifest file for streaming media content(s) beingbroadcast via a respective base station.

At step 260, the processor transmits the manifest file via a secondbroadcast channel of the base station. For instance, if the processor isa centralized cellular network component, the processor may send themanifest file to the base station and/or an MCU associated with the basestation for transmission over the second broadcast channel. In oneexample, the manifest file (i.e., the manifest file for the base stationthat is utilized in connection with the method 200) may be broadcast viaone or more dedicated control channels (e.g., a downlink controlchannel) of the base station. For example, the one or more dedicatedcontrol channels may be designated in advance, and may be known byendpoint devices such that endpoint devices may obtain manifest filesvia the relevant control channel(s). However, in another example,endpoint devices may determine the relevant control channel(s) toreceive manifest files via out-of-band communications with theprocessor, with an MME and/or an MSC, and so forth. In one example, thecontrol channel(s) for broadcasting manifest files may be selected inthe same or in a similar manner as the selection of the first broadcastchannel at step 230 (e.g., RF resources, such as OFDMA resource blocks,or the like, for broadcasting the actual streaming media content).

At step 270, the processor transmits the streaming media content via thefirst broadcast channel of the base station. The streaming media contentmay be deployed to the base station and/or the associated MCU via avariety of paths from a media server or from another device. In anyevent, the base station and/or the MCU via the base station may thenrebroadcast the streaming media content on the selected RF resources. Inone example, where the processor comprises a centralized cellularnetwork component, the processor may communicate with an MME and/or anMSC of the cellular network to indicate an intent to broadcast streamingmedia content via the base station. In turn, the MME and/or the MSC maythen communicate with the base station, the MCU, or a BSC/RNC if thestreaming media content is to use 2G/3G infrastructure, to instruct therespective base station, MCU, and/or BSC/RNC to utilize the firstbroadcast channel to broadcast the streaming media content via the basestation. It should be noted that in accordance with the presentdisclosure, the streaming media content is transmitted at a time that isselected by the media provider or at a time that is selected by anoperator of the cellular network, e.g., as opposed to on-demand mediathat is delivered at a time selected by a user. For instance, thestreaming media content may comprise live media, e.g., live audio orvideo, or may comprise scheduled programming. Following step 270, themethod 200 may proceed to step 295 or to optional step 280.

At optional step 280, the processor may receive a request from acellular endpoint device to subscribe to the streaming media content.For example, the cellular endpoint device may receive the manifest fileby tuning to the second broadcast channel and may then presentinformation regarding available streaming media content for the user ofthe cellular endpoint device. The user or an application of the cellularendpoint device may then select the streaming media content which isindicated to be broadcast. In response to such a selection, the cellularendpoint device may retrieve a SSM IP address of the selected streamingmedia content from the manifest file and send a “subscribe” request,e.g., directed to the processor and/or the device in which the processoris deployed as a recipient. The request may include the SSM IP addressassigned to the streaming media content in order to subscribe to theparticular streaming media content.

At optional step 290, the processor may identify the first broadcastchannel to the cellular endpoint device in response to the request. Forinstance, in response to the “subscribe” request, the processor maydetermine the first broadcast channel on which the streaming mediacontent is being broadcast, and may send a response indicating to thecellular endpoint device the first broadcast channel, e.g., theparticular RF resources, on which the streaming media content is beingbroadcast via the base station. In one example, the cellular endpointdevice tunes to the first broadcast channel after the first broadcastchannel is identified and receives the streaming media content. In oneexample, the response may further include an encryption key to allow thecellular endpoint device to access the streaming media content. Forinstance, it may first be verified whether the cellular endpoint deviceis authorized to receive the streaming media content via the basestation, and if so, the encryption key may be provided in the response.Thus, in one example, the endpoint device may further use an encryptionkey to decrypt the streaming media content that is transmitted via thefirst broadcast channel.

Following step 270 or either of optional step 280 or step 290, themethod 200 may proceed to step 295 where the method 200 ends. Inaddition, it should be noted that the method 200 may be expanded toinclude additional steps, may be modified to perform different steps, ormay omit certain steps. For instance, in one example the processor mayunicast or multicast the streaming media content to one or more basestations. In one example, the processor may make multiple copies of thestreaming media content, e.g., higher or lower quality video, such aswith higher or lower bit rates, video resolutions, etc., and may selectto provide different copies for broadcasting via different basestations. Alternatively, or in addition, the processor may select tosend different versions of the streaming media content at differenttimes and/or to different base stations, e.g., due to detectedcongestion, based upon which components of a base station may be used tobroadcast the streaming media contents via the first broadcast channel,e.g., 2G/3G components versus 4G/LTE components, and so forth. Thus,these and other modifications are all contemplated within the scope ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 300 for subscribingto a streaming media content associated with a source specific multicastinternet protocol address, in accordance with the present disclosure. Inone example, steps, functions and/or operations of the method 300 may beperformed by an endpoint device, such as endpoint device 160 or 161 ofFIG. 1, or an endpoint device in conjunction with other components ofthe system 100, such as AS 180, MCUs 191-193, and so forth. In oneexample, the steps, functions, or operations of method 300 may beperformed by a computing device or system 400, and/or processor 402 asdescribed in connection with FIG. 4 below. For instance, computingdevice or system 400 may represent an endpoint device of the presentdisclosure. For illustrative purposes, the method 300 is described ingreater detail below in connection with an example performed by aprocessor, such as processor 402. The method begins in step 305 andproceeds to step 310.

At step 310, the processor receives a first manifest file via a firstbroadcast channel of a first base station. In one example, the firstmanifest file includes an identification of a first plurality ofstreaming media contents and a first plurality of SSM IP addressesassociated with the first plurality of streaming media contents that arebeing broadcast or that will be broadcast via the first base station. Inone example, the first broadcast channel may be a dedicated controlchannel of the first base station that is known by the processor inadvance. In another example, the processor may determine the firstbroadcast channel via out-of-band communications with a component of acellular access network, such as a base station, MCU, and/or a corecellular network component, such as an MME, an MSC, or an applicationserver for allocating a source specific multicast internet protocoladdress to a streaming media content, in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

At step 315, the processor presents a listing of the first plurality ofstreaming media contents. For instance, the processor may presenttitles, start and end times, durations, ratings, short descriptions, andso forth pertaining to the streaming media contents that are identifiedin the first manifest file via a display screen or via audio output.

At step 320, the processor receives a selection of one of the firstplurality of streaming media contents. The selection may be made by auser or by application of the cellular endpoint device of the processor.For instance, a user of the cellular endpoint device may select via atouch screen input, a keyboard input, a voice command, etc., one of thestreaming media contents which is indicated to be broadcast.

At step 325, the processor transmits a first request to subscribe to theone of the first plurality of streaming media contents to the first basestation. In one example, the first request may comprise a “subscribe”request that includes a first SSM IP address of the first plurality ofSSM IP addresses that is associated with the one of the first pluralityof streaming media contents for the first base station. For instance, inresponse to the selection received at step 320, the processor mayretrieve a SSM IP address of the selected streaming media content fromthe first manifest file.

At step 330, the processor receives an identification of a secondbroadcast channel of the base first station in response to the firstrequest. For instance, the second broadcast channel of the first basestation may be associated with the one of the first plurality ofstreaming media contents. In other words, the one of the first pluralityof streaming media contents may be broadcast via the second broadcastchannel. In one example, the identification of the second broadcastchannel identifies the particular RF resources on which the streamingmedia content is being broadcast via the first base station. In oneexample, the identification is provided to the processor by the firstbase station, by an MCU associated with the first base station, by aBSC/RNC, a HSS, a HLR, or by an application server for allocating asource specific multicast internet protocol address to a streaming mediacontent, depending upon the particular network architecture of thesystem that is associated with the method 300.

At step 335, the processor receives the one of the first plurality ofstreaming media contents via the second broadcast channel of the firstbase station. For example, the processor may tune a radio receiverportion of the cellular endpoint device to the second broadcast channelof the first base station after receiving the identification of thesecond broadcast channel. The processor may then present the streamingmedia content, e.g., via a display screen and/or via an audio speaker orheadphone. In one example, the information received at step 330 mayfurther include an encryption key to allow the processor to access theone of the first plurality of streaming media contents. For instance, itmay first be verified whether the processor (or the cellular endpointdevice of the processor and/or the user of such device) is authorized toreceive the one of the first plurality of streaming media contents viathe first base station, and if so, the encryption key may be provided tothe processor. Thus, in one example, the processor may further use anencryption key to decrypt the one of the first plurality of streamingmedia contents that is received via the second broadcast channel of thefirst base station. Following step 335, the method 300 may proceed tostep 395 or to optional step 340.

At optional step 340, the processor may receive a second manifest filevia a first broadcast channel of a second base station. In one example,the second manifest file may include an identification of a secondplurality of streaming media contents and a second plurality of SSM IPaddresses associated with the second plurality of streaming mediacontents. In addition, in one example the second plurality of streamingmedia contents includes the one of the first plurality of streamingmedia contents. In other words, the one of the first plurality ofstreaming media contents is identified in both the first manifest fileof the first base station and in the second manifest file of the secondbase station. The processor may receive the second manifest file at alater time than receiving the first manifest file, such as when theprocessor moves into an area of coverage of the second base station.However, the processor may also receive the second manifest file atoptional step 340 at the same time or even prior to receiving the firstmanifest file, depending upon how the processor move throughout theenvironment, depending upon the RF conditions experienced by theprocessor and/or the cellular endpoint device, and so forth. In oneexample, the processor may receive the first manifest file and thesecond manifest file, and may initially select the first base stationfor receiving the one of the first plurality of streaming media content.For instance, the processor may receive the same streaming media contentfrom either of the first or second base stations, but may select thefirst base station based if the first base station has a higher receivedsignal strength indicator (RSSI), is closer to the processor, provides ahigher or lower bitrate broadcast of the streaming media content, and/orbased upon additional factors.

At optional step 345, the processor may detect one or more criteria fortransferring to the second base station. For instance, the system mayalso provide for continuity in receiving streaming media content as theprocessor and/or cellular endpoint device moves from one location toanother, or as the radio environment changes. For instance, theprocessor may be receiving the one of the first plurality of streamingmedia contents via the second broadcast channel of the first basestation, but may be moving away from the first base station, thestrength of an interference signal may be increasing with respect to thesecond broadcast channel of the first base station, the RSSI of thesecond base station may increase such that it exceeds the RSSI of thefirst base station, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the second basestation may exceed that of the first base station, and so forth. If anyof such criteria is met, the processor may therefore determine thatreception of the one of the first plurality of streaming media contentshould be transitioned from the first base station to the second basestation.

At optional step 350, the processor may transmit a second request tosubscribe to the one of the first plurality of streaming media contentsto the second base station. The second request may include a second SSMIP of the second plurality of SSM IP addresses that is associated withthe one of the first plurality of streaming media contents for thesecond base station. In one example, the operations of optional step 350may comprise the same or substantially similar operations to step 325.

At optional step 355, the processor may receive an identification of asecond broadcast channel of the second base station in response to therequest, the second broadcast channel of the second base stationassociated with the one of the first plurality of streaming mediacontents. In other words, the one of the first plurality of streamingmedia contents may be broadcast via the second broadcast channel of thesecond base station. In one example, the identification of the secondbroadcast channel of the second base station identifies the particularRF resources on which the streaming media content is being broadcast viathe second base station. In one example, the identification is providedto the processor by the second base station, by an MCU associated withthe second base station, by a BSC/RNC, a HSS, a HLR, or by anapplication server for allocating a source specific multicast internetprotocol address to a streaming media content, depending upon theparticular network architecture of the system that is associated withthe method 300. In one example, the information received at optionalstep 355 may further include another encryption key to allow theprocessor to access the one of the first plurality of streaming mediacontents. For instance, the streaming media content may be encrypteddifferently at the second base station. In one example, the operationsof optional step 355 may comprise the same or substantially similaroperations to step 330.

At optional step 360, the processor may receive the one of the firstplurality of streaming media contents via the second broadcast channelof the second base station. For example, the processor may tune a radioreceiver portion of the cellular endpoint device to the second broadcastchannel of the second base station after receiving the identification ofthe second broadcast channel of the second base station. In one example,the operations of optional step 360 may comprise the same orsubstantially similar operations to step 335. For instance, in oneexample, the processor may further use the encryption key that may bereceived at step 330 or the additional encryption key that may bereceived at optional step 355 to decrypt the one of the first pluralityof streaming media contents that is received via the second broadcastchannel of the second base station. The processor may then continue topresent the one of the first plurality of streaming media contents asthe reception is transitioned from the first base station to the secondbase station.

Following step 335 or any of optional steps 340-360, the method 300 mayproceed to step 395 where the method 300 ends.

In addition, it should be noted that although not specificallyspecified, one or more steps, functions or operations of the method 200and/or the method 300 may include a storing, displaying and/oroutputting step as required for a particular application. In otherwords, any data, records, fields, and/or intermediate results discussedin the method 200 and/or the method 300 can be stored, displayed and/oroutputted to another device as required for a particular application.Furthermore, steps or blocks in FIGS. 2 and 3 that recite a determiningoperation or involve a decision do not necessarily require that bothbranches of the determining operation be practiced. In other words, oneof the branches of the determining operation can be deemed as anoptional step. In addition, one or more steps, blocks, functions, oroperations of the above described method 200 and/or method 300 maycomprise optional steps, or can be combined, separated, and/or performedin a different order from that described above, without departing fromthe example embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts a high-level block diagram of a computing devicespecifically programmed to perform the functions described herein. Asdepicted in FIG. 4, the system 400 comprises one or more hardwareprocessor elements 402 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), amicroprocessor, or a multi-core processor), a memory 404 (e.g., randomaccess memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM)), a module 405 forallocating a source specific multicast internet protocol address to astreaming media content and/or for subscribing to a streaming mediacontent associated with a source specific multicast internet protocoladdress, and various input/output devices 406 (e.g., storage devices,including but not limited to, a tape drive, a floppy drive, a hard diskdrive or a compact disk drive, a receiver, a transmitter, a speaker, adisplay, a speech synthesizer, an output port, an input port and a userinput device (such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a microphone andthe like)). Although only one processor element is shown, it should benoted that the computing device may employ a plurality of processorelements. Furthermore, although only one computing device is shown inthe figure, if the method 200 or the method 300 as discussed above isimplemented in a distributed or parallel manner for a particularillustrative example, i.e., the steps of the above method 200 or method300, or the entire method 200 or method 300 is implemented acrossmultiple or parallel computing device, then the computing device of thisfigure is intended to represent each of those multiple computingdevices.

Furthermore, one or more hardware processors can be utilized insupporting a virtualized or shared computing environment. Thevirtualized computing environment may support one or more virtualmachines representing computers, servers, or other computing devices. Insuch virtualized virtual machines, hardware components such as hardwareprocessors and computer-readable storage devices may be virtualized orlogically represented.

It should be noted that the present disclosure can be implemented insoftware and/or in a combination of software and hardware, e.g., usingapplication specific integrated circuits (ASIC), a programmable gatearray (PGA) including a Field PGA, or a state machine deployed on ahardware device, a computing device or any other hardware equivalents,e.g., computer readable instructions pertaining to the method discussedabove can be used to configure a hardware processor to perform thesteps, functions and/or operations of the above disclosed method 200 ormethod 300. In one embodiment, instructions and data for the presentmodule or process 405 allocating a source specific multicast internetprotocol address to a streaming media content and/or for subscribing toa streaming media content associated with a source specific multicastinternet protocol address (e.g., a software program comprisingcomputer-executable instructions) can be loaded into memory 404 andexecuted by hardware processor element 402 to implement the steps,functions or operations as discussed above in connection with theillustrative method 200 or method 300. Furthermore, when a hardwareprocessor executes instructions to perform “operations,” this couldinclude the hardware processor performing the operations directly and/orfacilitating, directing, or cooperating with another hardware device orcomponent (e.g., a co-processor and the like) to perform the operations.

The processor executing the computer readable or software instructionsrelating to the above described method can be perceived as a programmedprocessor or a specialized processor. As such, the present module 405for allocating a source specific multicast internet protocol address toa streaming media content and/or for subscribing to a streaming mediacontent associated with a source specific multicast internet protocoladdress (including associated data structures) of the present disclosurecan be stored on a tangible or physical (broadly non-transitory)computer-readable storage device or medium, e.g., volatile memory,non-volatile memory, ROM memory, RAM memory, magnetic or optical drive,device or diskette and the like. Furthermore, a “tangible”computer-readable storage device or medium comprises a physical device,a hardware device, or a device that is discernible by the touch. Morespecifically, the computer-readable storage device may comprise anyphysical devices that provide the ability to store information such asdata and/or instructions to be accessed by a processor or a computingdevice such as a computer or an application server.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and nota limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodimentshould not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the followingclaims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a processor of a cellularnetwork; and a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations,the operations comprising: receiving a streaming media content;allocating a source specific multicast internet protocol address for afirst base station of a plurality of base stations of the cellularnetwork to the streaming media content; allocating a first broadcastchannel of the first base station to the streaming media content;associating the first broadcast channel with the source specificmulticast internet protocol address for the first base station;generating a manifest file, the manifest file including anidentification of the streaming media content and the source specificmulticast internet protocol address for the first base station;transmitting the manifest file via a second broadcast channel of thefirst base station; and transmitting the streaming media content via thefirst broadcast channel of the first base station.
 2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the manifest file comprises a text-based fileassociating a plurality of source specific multicast internet protocoladdresses with a plurality of broadcast channels of the first basestation.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second broadcast channelcomprises a downlink control channel of the first base station.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the first broadcast channel comprises a firstplurality of downlink radio frequency resource blocks of the first basestation, and wherein the second broadcast channel comprises a secondplurality of downlink radio frequency resource blocks of the first basestation.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is deployed ina uniform terrestrial radio access network of the cellular network or anevolved uniform terrestrial radio access network of the cellularnetwork.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is deployed inan evolved packet core.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the streamingmedia content is received from a server of a media provider.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7, wherein the streaming media content comprises a livemedia.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein the streaming media content istransmitted at a time that is selected by the media provider.
 10. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the streaming media content is transmitted ata time that is selected by an operator of the cellular network.
 11. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the cellular endpoint device tunes to thefirst broadcast channel after the first broadcast channel is identified.12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructionswhich, when executed by a processor in a cellular network, cause theprocessor to perform operations, the operations comprising: receiving astreaming media content; allocating a source specific multicast internetprotocol address for a first base station of a plurality of basestations of the cellular network to the streaming media content;allocating a first broadcast channel of the first base station to thestreaming media content; associating the first broadcast channel withthe source specific multicast internet protocol address for the firstbase station; generating a manifest file, the manifest file including anidentification of the streaming media content and the source specificmulticast internet protocol address for the first base station;transmitting the manifest file via a second broadcast channel of thefirst base station; receiving a request from a cellular endpoint deviceto subscribe to the streaming media content; identifying the firstbroadcast channel to the cellular endpoint device in response to therequest; and transmitting the streaming media content via the firstbroadcast channel of the first base station.
 13. A method comprising:receiving, by a processor, a streaming media content; allocating, by theprocessor, a source specific multicast internet protocol address for afirst base station of a plurality of base stations of the cellularnetwork to the streaming media content; allocating, by the processor, afirst broadcast channel of the first base station to the streaming mediacontent; associating, by the processor, the first broadcast channel withthe source specific multicast internet protocol address for the firstbase station; generating, by the processor, a manifest file, themanifest file including an identification of the streaming media contentand the source specific multicast internet protocol address for thefirst base station; transmitting, by the processor, the manifest filevia a second broadcast channel of the first base station; andtransmitting, by the processor, the streaming media content via thefirst broadcast channel of the first base station.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the manifest file comprises a text-based fileassociating a plurality of source specific multicast internet protocoladdresses with a plurality of broadcast channels of the first basestation.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second broadcastchannel comprises a downlink control channel of the first base station.16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first broadcast channelcomprises a first plurality of downlink radio frequency resource blocksof the first base station, and wherein the second broadcast channelcomprises a second plurality of downlink radio frequency resource blocksof the first base station.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein theprocessor is deployed in a uniform terrestrial radio access network ofthe cellular network or an evolved uniform terrestrial radio accessnetwork of the cellular network.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein theprocessor is deployed in an evolved packet core.
 19. The method of claim13, wherein the streaming media content is received from a server of amedia provider.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the streaming mediacontent comprises a live media.